White House praises ‘historic’ inter-Korean summit

The White House praised the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday ahead of a potential meeting between Kim and President Trump. 

“On the occasion of Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in’s historic meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, we wish the Korean people well. We are hopeful that talks will achieve progress toward a future of peace and prosperity for the entire Korean Peninsula,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. 

“The United States appreciates the close coordination with our ally, the Republic of Korea, and looks forward to continuing robust discussions in preparation for the planned meeting between President Donald J. Trump and Kim Jong Un in the coming weeks,” she added.

{mosads}

Kim on Friday local time became the first North Korean leader since the Korean War of the 1950s to cross over into South Korea, a sign of warming relations between the two countries. 

Leaders from North and South Korea shook hands at the border ahead of a summit to discuss Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program.

The two leaders are expected to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, as well as a peace agreement to mark the official end to the Korean War. 

The summit comes ahead of a potential meeting between Trump and Kim in May or June.

The White House on Thursday released pictures of newly minted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s secret meeting with Kim over Easter weekend earlier this month.